Sponsor |  howardpark | Mar 13, 2007 10:08pm | | I have often wondered why Christians believe all the nonsense in the Bible (or at least profess to). Even as a child, I could see quite clearly that that stuff was made up by priests trying to keep their cushy jobs. And most of the Christians I have actually been able to have a calm discussion with seem like reasonable, rational people. They're aware of the contradictions and fallacies, yet still they believe (or claim to). The best explanation of this paradox that I have read so far comes from Stuart A. Vyse's Believing in Magic. He points out that superstitions and other irrational beliefs are often associated with membership in social groups. From this point of view, the most important feature of a religious belief is not that it's believable, but precisely that it's unbelievable! To be a useful way of ensuring group loyalty, the belief must not be a conclusion you could have reached on your own. It must be absurd enough on its face to demonstrate your submission to whatever the group demands. |
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| | | tilgor | Mar 20, 2007 10:53am | I believe Christianity also offers comfort to people; however, its the same type of comfort presented to a child with wonders.
The advantage of religion is that it offers a conclusion to everything, without evidence, whereas to explain to your child the right answer would take a lot of evidence. There's an interesting correlation study, take it for what you will, but it shows that the countries with the highest importance in religion, also have the lowest IQs. (the US is a bit different, they are bit smarter, but still believe) I think from this, you could draw the conclusion that Religion explains better, what the uneducated can't. |
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|  katblack | Mar 24, 2007 10:11pm | They hate to think they are alone, that death is final.
They are afraid of dying, and the unknown what after.
I have had many conversations with Christians, the after life is the #1 thing to them.
They need to believe that all their loved ones will be waiting for them when they get "there". It comforts them to believe that they will be surrounded by all the people that have died, that they will be safe.
Death scares the crap out of them.
They really can't fathom that when the last breath is taken, that is all there is. |
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Sponsor | | rivalarrival | Mar 24, 2007 11:26pm | | If Scientology can manage to gain recruits, Christianity should have no problem. Comparing the two, Christianity comes out looking like a rose. |
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Sponsor | | edelwater | Apr 15, 2007 5:47pm | | I think it is like the choice between the red and the blue pill |
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Sponsor | | cynthia-nekomata | Apr 15, 2007 8:30pm | By the way... the blue pill is a suppository.
Loved that cartoon.
What I'm trying to say, is that it's something that they can understand. How many people of low intelligence can really fit their mind around the concepts like evolution (the full theory), atomic theory, gravity, mathematics. Anything high-brow is well, too high for the low-brows, but they can get "God did it." It's a comfortable and simplifying way to do things. This was alright as an explanation, then priests started to exploit this thought, and they molded society to their own ideas by attaching morals and such to this invisible almighty deity. |
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Sponsor | | AnswerMan | Apr 16, 2007 2:14pm | | reply to topic heading: 1) So we don't fear as much the day we die 2) Evolution was created by satan 3) it sez so in my bible. |
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Sponsor | | AnswerMan | Apr 17, 2007 6:49am | yea, that too.
4th) ? |
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| | | robhaynes | Apr 21, 2007 11:57pm | I really hate to risk sounding like I'm defending Scientology, but I'd have to say the only reason Christianity looks better is that they have a better PR machine.
I think Christians are just willing to overlook the ridiculous parts of the Bible so they can cling to some hope. The same way one might overlook Cousin Jimmy's multiple meth-related robbery convictions because, you know, he's really a good kid, just a little misunderstood. |
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